The Startup Taking On the Autism Resource Crisis (And Winning)

When Antoinette’s children were diagnosed with autism—four years apart—she was handed the same outdated “resource packet” both times. Nothing had changed. Instead of waiting for the system to improve, she decided to build the solution herself. In this episode of The Disruption Lab, recorded live with an audience, Antoinette shares how she went from zero tech background to launching Nru, a digital health platform designed to connect the dots between medical, educational, and therapy resources for families of neurodivergent children. You’ll hear how she’s tackling fragmented systems, why she built mental-health-focused features like daily “inch stone” journaling, and how she balances sharing her family’s story without compromising their privacy. We also dig into the surprising role community programs and mentors played in accelerating her journey, and what it really takes to design technology with empathy. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or founder, this conversation offers an unfiltered look at turning lived experience into lasting impact—and why the autism resource gap might finally have a solution.